Kacey’s face scrunched up in disagreement. “I don’t think that’s true,” Kacey shot back, her hands coming to her hips. “He loves kids.”

“Of course he does, and he’ll be a great dad, but so much is going on with his mom, he really needs to get over that before he does the dad thing.”

“He wants a child though, with me.”

“I don’t doubt that, but you’ve only been together for two months, Kacey.”

“And you and Karson were only together like six when you guys got pregnant with Mena,” she snapped back. She couldn’t believe her! She was supposed to be her best friend, her supporter. Plus, Kacey wasn’t even pregnant! They were arguing over nothing. “Plus, I’m not pregnant.”

“I’m just saying, if you aren’t, then make sure you start taking precautions.” Lacey shook her head, sucking in a breath, her eyes locked on Kacey’s. “Are we fighting?”

Kacey nodded. “I think so.”

“Why? This is stupid.”

“Exactly,” Kacey agreed. “I was just telling you I didn’t feel good.”

“Yeah, it’s probably nothing,” she said with a shrug. “But still, be careful. Jordie is fragile right now.”

Kacey shook her head. “I know, but if it did happen, he’d be happy.”

“Yeah, but it would stress him out not to mess up. He doesn’t need that. It already stresses him out knowing he could fail you.”

“Lacey, I promise you, he’s a much stronger man than you’re giving him credit for.”

“Yeah, but you forget that he tells your brother a lot more than he tells you, and Karson tells me everything. He’s tiptoeing the line at just the thought of his mom. No need to push him over.”

While she knew that Jordie and Karson were close, it bothered her that Lacey had said that. “So are you saying you know my boyfriend better than me?”

Lacey looked back at her from putting Mena’s car seat on her arm. “No, I’m only telling you what Karson has told me.”

“And I know all that. Jordie is okay, he is fighting it.”

“But the dinner is creeping up on him, and he’ll go. You know he will.”

She did, but still. “Whatever. He is doing great.”

“I don’t doubt him. I’m just saying be careful.”

“Heard you,” she said, reaching for her bag and walking away.

But Lacey called out, “Wait, are you mad?”

Kacey looked back at her and shrugged. “Kinda.”

Lacey shook her head, catching up to her, and said, “Why? Because I’m telling you what you already know? That I’m trying to be the voice of reason before you come back to me, asking for advice on everything I’ve already said?”

“No, because you think you know Jordie better than me, and plus, you doubt him.”

“I’m not doubting him,” she snapped, her voice rising. “I want him to succeed, I want you guys to succeed. But I am worried that if you do get pregnant and he relapses or whatever, can you imagine the strain it would put on not only him but you? It will break you, and you’ll be sitting there with a baby and a drunk boyfriend.”

“That won’t happen,” Kacey said, her voice laced with anger. “He’s fine, we are good.”

“I hope so, Kacey, I do,” she said, her eyes pleading with hers. “But please don’t be mad at me. I’m just trying to look out for you. I love you. You know this.”

Looking away, Kacey pulled in a breath through her nose, letting it out slowly before looking back at Lacey. “I love you too.”

“Good,” she said, squeezing her hand. “Now go home and get a test so that later we can sit here and laugh over how overdramatic we are.”

“Yeah, I will.”

“Come here,” Lacey said, pulling her into a hug. “I’m sorry I upset you.”

She shook her head. “You didn’t. I’m just emotional. I miss Jordie.”

“I know,” she agreed, and Kacey knew she missed Karson too.

Pulling away, she looked over at Lacey and asked, “If I am, will you be there for me if I need you?”

“Of course,” Lacey said, not even pausing or thinking. “Please don’t think I wouldn’t. It’s just I worry about it being more of a stressor than a blessing. You don’t want to end up like me, on drugs just to get through the day.”

Kacey gave her a deadpan look. “You’re doing great and you’ve cut down on your meds, drastically.”

“I know. But, y’know, I just hate that I’m weak.”

“You’re not,” Kacey promised. “But thanks for thinking of me.”

“I always do. You’re the sister I never had but always wanted.”

Kacey smiled, leaning into her and hugging her tightly. “Same here.”

But as they parted, Lacey’s words ran over and over in her head. The whole way to CVS, they kept playing on repeat and she wondered if she was right.

Could Jordie not handle them having a child along with everything else that was going on?

Was she even pregnant?

And what was she gonna do if she was and he couldn’t handle it?

Leaning back against his headboard, Jordie played on FarmVille as he waited for Kacey to call. She’d needed a shower and wouldn’t just set up the FaceTime so he could watch her shower. He thought it was rude, but she told him he was a pig and hung up. Typical conversation between them. With a grin on his face, he finished watering his crops and then opened his Facebook to update his status, just to mess with her.